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Posts tagged: American Clean Energy and Security Acty
How China Beat the U.S. and Became the New Green Tech Giant
By Elizabeth M. Lynch, August 31, 2010
China marches on to be the global green tech leader
Originally Posted on Foreign Policy Digest
China no longer needs to worry about the U.S. as a serious green technology competitor because the U.S. just left the race. After a year-long impasse, Senate majority leader Harry Reid confirmed on July 22, 2010 that the Democrats would not be able to secure enough votes to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act and, thus, would abandon any further efforts to do so.
But, in today's globalized economy, rising powers like China are willing and readily able to capitalize on America's missed opportunities. The climate change bill would have provided a coherent U.S. energy policy, directed investment to green technology and created much-needed American jobs. Instead, those investment and job opportunities will likely go to China. With China's rapid expansion into the clean technology sector, the U.S. is being left behind and leaving many to wonder–will it ever be able to catch up?
Although the U.S. debate on climate change dwells on the prevention of environmental damage, the Chinese government focuses on the economics of climate change, emphasizing the direct link between clean technology and China's energy security and economic competitiveness. Former Center for American Progress senior policy analyst Julian Wong explained in a recent testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission that China's emphasis on the economic upside of clean technology has imbued its energy policy with a greater sense of urgency, allowing the country to surpass the U.S. in many renewable energy industries.
With over 4,000 miles of track laid domestically, China is the leader in high-speed rail. It has pledged $300 billion to bring high-speed rail to many parts of the country and is exporting its expertise to Turkey, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and potentially, even California. Notoriously stingy at funding its rail system, the U.S., on the other hand, has pledged a relatively paltry $8 billion and has only one high-speed rail line. Instead of developing cleaner rail technology, the U.S. continues to develop carbon-intensive modes of transportation, investing in highways and air transit.
China has also become a global leader in the renewable energy sector. As the leading manufacturer of solar panels, China exports most of its solar panels overseas. As for wind, China installed the largest number of wind turbines in the world in 2009, expanding its wind capacity by 13 GW. By contrast, the U.S. only expanded its capacity by 10 GW in 2009. But, China's prowess in renewables should not come as a surprise. In 2009, China invested $34.6 billion in green technology, making it the leader in renewable energy funding; the U.S. came in second, investing $18.6 billion.
Some critics argue that the Chinese government has an unfair advantage because an authoritarian system can funnel money easily to industries it wants to promote. The largest commercial banks in China are state-owned and–at the insistence of the central government–have provided ample low-interest loans to green technology companies. The U.S. market economy, on the other hand, cannot require American banks to give out favorable loans. Furthermore, China has used protectionist policies, like its "indigenous innovation" policy, to promote home-grown companies at the expense of foreign ones.
While some of these arguments are reasonable and should be addressed in trade talks with the Chinese, their importance in explaining the U.S.' second-fiddle status is exaggerated. The criticisms serve only to obscure the real issue behind the U.S.' downfall in the green technology sector – the lack of a coherent national energy policy. In the U.S., the climate change debate too often ignores the important role of government in promoting emerging industries within the capitalist framework and cooperating with the private sector. Silicon Valley, for example, flourished because of government support and its close ties to government, particularly the defense agencies. To attribute China's competitive edge to its planned economy is to suggest that capitalism and free markets are what hinder the U.S. ability to be a viable competitor in the global green technology market. But, American history shows that government support bolsters innovation.
Capital will flow to where there is some level of certainty in investment. Venture capitalists are sinking their dollars into China's green technology because the Chinese government has a crystal-clear policy, which it has backed by huge investments in renewable energy–sure signs of a government's sincere commitment to promoting green tech. These investors are also receiving huge returns on their Chinese investments. China's richest person is now believed to be Wang Chuanfu, founder and chairman of BYD, a battery and electric car company in China.
Furthermore, it's not just Chinese capital that is flowing. This September, Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Mingyang Electric will seek to raise $500 million in an initial public offering in the U.S. If the U.S. wants that capital to remain within its borders, the federal government needs to make an equally strong commitment to renewable energy. Until Congress passes some sort of legislation signaling its commitments to certain industries, capital–even U.S. capital–will continue to flow to China and green technology innovation in the U.S. will remain at a standstill.
In his testimony, Julian Wong raised the crucial point that, although the U.S. still leads China in green technology research and development (R&D), eventually, those R&D dollars will want to move to China, too. By its nature, R&D needs to be geographically close to its manufacturing base, as well as to the end users of its products. In fact, some U.S. companies–including important players like Applied Materials, DuPont, and IBM–have already begun to move their green tech R&D to China.
China has clearly surpassed the U.S. in key green technology industries and has established the economic infrastructure to lead the green technology market. Instead of trying to stay on the offensive, Congress has defensively decried China's authoritarian government and indigenous innovation policies and aroused fear of China's threat to American economic dominance. Aside from rhetoric, it is unclear what substantive actions Congress is taking to make the U.S. green technology sector more competitive. If the U.S. followed China's example in passing green tech-friendly policies, it may be able to catch up. But, by ignoring that possibility and abandoning any hopes of climate change legislation, Congress has, instead, opted out of the green technology race. Unfortunately, the only losers in Congress' ill-fated decision are the American public and the millions of Americans still out of work.
Climate Change |	 American Clean Energy and Security Acty, China, China green technology investment, Harry Reid, high-speed rail, indigenous innovation policy, Mingyang Electric, solar power, U.S. energy policy, wind energy
Climate Change Bill – Perhaps OK under WTO?
An Expert Weighs In
On Monday, we ran a piece on the international trade implications of the border adjustment measures of the House's climate change bill. The article ends with a section questioning the legality of the tariff provision under WTO rules.
China Law & Policy was fortunate to have Henry Gao, Associate Professor of Law at the Singapore Management
Prof. Henry Gao
University and expert on WTO law comment on our analysis. In his comments below, he questions whether the provisions would in fact violate WTO rules.
If I understand it correctly, this means that the carbon tariff provision is in violation of the national treatment obligation under the WTO. However, this seems to be rather unlikely. The national treatment obligation only applies with regard to domestic taxes and other regulations. The carbon tariff, by definition, is not a domestic tax. Instead, it is a tariff that will be applied before the goods enter the border. Thus, for me, it appears that it's more accurate to say that this is a violation of the MFN clause (given the assumptions in your article that some foreign firms will qualify while others don't), or possibly the tariff binding obligation under GATT Article II, assuming that the US might exceed its bound tariff levels by imposing the extra tariff.
Also, legally speaking, while the US will surely have to fight hard to defend its case if the issue is really referred to the WTO, it's less than certain that the US will win. Indeed, in the very first case that went before the WTO Appellate Body (AB), the US-Gasoline case, the WTO has, contrary to popular belief, affirmed the right for WTO members to take actions to conserve exhaustible natural resources, which has been explicitly interpreted by the AB to include clean air. Of course, this doesn't give countries an open license to do whatever they want. They will need to demonstrate first, that are no less trade-restrictive measures; second, that their measures do not constitute arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination. To sum up, it's OK to take actions to control climate change, but the legality of the measure would depend on how you structure your package. The devil, as always, is in the details.
Henry Gao
Editor, WTO & China Blog
As Prof. Gao notes, the devil is most certainly in the details. As of yet, the House bill does not clearly spell out how exactly these tariffs will be applied. Because of this, experts fall on both sides of this issue. Paul Krugman of the New York Times expressed the opinion that the tariff provisions would like be okay under WTO rules. However, attorneys at Akin Gump's Climate Change practice disagree and offer their assessment that the provisions are a violation of WTO rules.
While there is a call by some moderate Democrats and many Republicans in the Senate to make the provisions stronger, expect at the very least for the provisions to be made a bit clearer.
Climate Change |	 American Clean Energy and Security Acty, border adjustment measures, Climate Change, climate tariffs, Copenhagen, Henry Gao, Senate, WTO


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Home LeBron James In First Public Comments Since Signing With Lakers, LeBron James Expresses Excitement Over 'Dream Come True'
In First Public Comments Since Signing With Lakers, LeBron James Expresses Excitement Over 'Dream Come True'
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James Hoping To Help 'The Future Barack Obama' With Opening Of I Promise School In Akron
After years of missing out on top free agents, the Los Angeles Lakers ended their drought this summer by signing LeBron James. Not only did they add the game's best player, the Lakers secured a long-term commitment from James as he inked a four-year deal.
GET YOUR 'LABRON' SHIRT NOW!
James' contract does include an opt-out clause after the third year, but his agreeing to join the team on a contract that's more than the '1+1′ was a major coup for the Lakers. Unlike previous years, James' free-agency decision was announced in muted fashion.
His Klutch Sports agency sent out a press release, and the 14-time All-Star has largely remained under the radar since July 1. The exception to that is James attending a Lakers' Summer League game in Las Vegas, as well as grassroots youth basketball games.
James broke his silence on Sunday by expressing his excitement and feelings over signing with the Lakers, via the Uninterrupted Network:
"It's kind of like a dream come true for me. Growing up, I was a cowboys fans, I was a Bulls fan, I was a Yankees fan. I've always felt like that was one of the historic franchises. And you look at the Lakers, being able to play for a historic franchise with so much history, and now being able to partner with Magic Johnson, someone I kind of looked up to when I was younger. Wanted to make no-look passes like Magic, wanted to get on the break and be 'Showtime' like Magic. For it to all come to fruition at this point, I think timing is everything. For me to be in this position now, the excitement that I have to be a Laker, I'm happy to be a part of it because the Lakers are a historical franchise, we all know that. But it's a championship franchise, and that's what we're trying to get back to. I'm happy to be a part of the culture and be a part of us getting back to that point."
James' comments go against a Western Conference player and agent recently agreeing that he signed with the Lakers primarily to play in Los Angeles.
While there's buzz over James taking the court for the Lakers, Monday is monumental in that his foundation is opening a public school in Akron, Ohio, which James will be on hand for.
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info@biomedres.us +1 (720) 414-3554
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Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research
February, 2019, Volume 14, 3, pp 1-5
Multi-Component Exercise Program and Improving Physical Performances in Older Inpatients: Results from A Pilot Interventional Study
V François*1, F Pamoukdjian2, F Bruneau1, V Lévy3, C Bloch Queyrat3, M Boubaya3 and JJ Monsuez4
1Department of geriatric medicine, Rene Muret Hospital, France
2Geriatric Department, APHP, Avicenne Hospital, France
3Avicenne Hospital, Clinical Research Unit and Clinical Research Center, France
4Department of cardiology, Rene Muret Hospital, France
Received: February 05, 2019 | Published: February 13, 2019
Corresponding author: Véronique François, APHP, Rene Muret Hospital, Department of geriatric medicine, France
DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2019.14.002558
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Objectives: To assess the feasibility and the effects on physical performances of a multi-component exercise program (MCETP) in older inpatients.
Design and Setting: The training program included 3 components, endurance, balance, and resistance training. It consisted in 3 sessions per week during 3 months. Specifically, devoted strength-building machines were designed to properly fulfill the physical abilities of older people.
Participants: The program was proposed to 51 older hospitalized patients.
Measurements: Feasibility was assessed by recording the number of sessions the patients achieved, the occurrence of adverse events, the emotional response to training and subjective feeling of exertion-intensity, all items were recorded after each session. Physical performance changes were measured using the gait speed, the TUG and the chair rising ability
Results: The 21 patients who refused the training had a significant lower MMSE than those who accepted. The body mass index of the 13 patients who completed a single session only was significantly higher. A total of 17 patients completed the entire training program. With the training, patients improved chair standing of 29%, TUG of 33% and gait speed of 50%. No adverse effect or medical complication occurred. Patients completed 83% of the program. The causes for which sessions were missed were mainly due to simultaneous conventional hospital care or shortcomings. Sessions were perceived as hard for 0.3% of them, moderate for 33% and light for 67%. 98 % sessions were reported as pleasant.
Conclusion: In this preliminary study, a MCETP significantly improved physical performances of older inpatients after 12 weeks. These results have to be confirmed in a prospective, randomized controlled trial to follow.
Abbreviations: MCETP: Multi-Component Exercise Training Program; EWGOS: European Working Group on Sarcopenia; GA: Geriatric Assessment; CIRSG: Cumulative Illness Rating Scale Geriatric
Frailty is an excess vulnerability to stressors, with a reduced ability to maintain or regain homeostasis after a destabilizing event, leading to poor outcomes: early death, disability, unplanned hospitalization and falls [1,2]. Frailty is a dynamic process, poten tially reversible with a targeted geriatric intervention [3]. One of the main geriatric interventions is probably physical rehabilitation with exercises. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) position states that participation in regular physical activities elic-its a number of favorable responses that contribute to healthy aging and reduce the risk of frailty [4]. Indeed, exercise has consistently been found to improve physical function, sarcopenia, cognitive performance, and mood, which all are significant components of frailty [5-10]. Optimized exercise training has been proposed on a multi-component basis, including endurance, balance, and resistance training [11], to which recently released guidelines added a greater emphasis on high intensity exercise including muscle strengthening activities [12]. In a recent meta-analysis involving 18 interventional studies (n=2517 participants with age at inclusion ranged from 60 to 85 years) published from 1998 to 2009, the authors showed that a multi-component exercise program was more effective in limiting or reducing sarcopenia than low intensity interventions [6], and, in turn, to limit adverse associated outcomes, including falls, fractures, frailty, and mortality [13-18]. But, most of interventional studies concerned in-home participants. Few studies were devoted to inpatients and the feasibility of multi-component exercise program remains unclear in this population. We aimed to assess the feasibility and the effects on extremity physical performances of a multi-component exercise program in older inpatients.
Study Design and Population
An interventional pilot study of a multi-component exercise training program (MCETP), was performed in a department of geriatric medicine (Rene Muret Hospital, Sevran, France), between June 1 to December 30, 2016.
Patients were eligible for this study if they were aged 70 and over, and if they were independent to walk. Patients with stroke, acute coronary syndrome, hip or knee intervention lasting for less than 6 months, severe heart failure and pulmonary insufficiency were excluded from this study. Informed consent was obtained from the patients before inclusion. This study was approved by the local ethics committee (CLEA, Avicenne Hospital, Bobigny, France).
Clinical Data
Demographic data (age, sex), blood pressure (mmHg), and a screening for sarcopenia which was defined in agreement with the European Working Group on Sarcopenia (EWGOS) consensus as a gait speed (measured over 10 meters) ≤ 0.8m/s, and a reduced muscle mass as assessed by a calf circumference <31cm [19].
Potential Mechanisms for Sex-Specific Differences in Muscular Wasting
To date, the mechanisms responsible for sex-related differences in muscle wasting remain unclear, although some potential molecular changes have been identified that may explain the differences. A previous study demonstrated that women express higher levels of FoxO3 mRNA than men [15]. FoxO3a transcription factors have been associated with two main catabolic systems: the ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy-lysosome systems [16]. This suggests that differential FoxO3 signaling in response to unloading is responsible for the higher degree of skeletal muscle loss during disuse in females. Moreover, FoxO3 upstream molecules, such as Akt, heat shock protein (Hsp) 72, and myostatin, also exhibit sexspecific abundances or responses to several extracellular stimuli in human and rat skeletal muscles [17-19]. Indeed, our recent results indicate that seven days of hindlimb unloading induces a greater reduction in relative soleus muscle weight and fiber cross-sectional area in female than in male rats and is associated with a differential response to the FoxO3a/ubiquitin-proteasome pathway after hindlimb unloading [20].
Pre-MCETP Geriatric Assessment
Geriatric assessment (GA) was performed at inclusion, and included the three following domains: comorbidities assessed by the cumulative illness rating scale geriatric (CIRSG); malnutrition was defined in agreement with the French nutritional guidelines as: body mass index (BMI) < 21kg/m² and or weight loss > 5% in 1 month or > 10% in 6 months and or albumin level < 35g/l; and cognitive impairment was defined as a mini mental state examination (MMSE) < 24/30.
Physical Performances
We performed three measures of physical performances. Rising from a chair (RC) defined as the time (in seconds) needed to stand up and sit down 5 consecutive times as fast as possible [20] Gait speed (GS) over 10 meters. Patients had to walk along a corridor with the following indication: "please begin walking at your normal pace", and after the running order: "go". GS was measured in "m/s" with a chronometer by dividing the distance in meters (4m) by the time in seconds. If a participant could not walk, GS was "0" [21]. Timed Get Up and Go test (TGUG), a composite walking test that measures the time (in seconds) needed to rise from a chair, walk over 3 meters and a return to the chair [22].
Little is known about the physiological mechanisms related to sex-specific differences in the reduction of muscle strength. Deschenes et al. [13,25] have previously reported that women suffer more severe unloading-induced decrements in neuromuscular function than men. These may be due to the disparities in the capacity of the nervous system to activate contracting muscle and a greater diminution in the neural drive from the central nervous system in a woman. Moreover, in isolated rat soleus muscle, they also indicated that sex affected unloading-induced functional neuromuscular adaptations [26]. This suggested that the greater strength of male muscles was due to neuromuscular transmission efficiency as well as greater muscle mass. Additional studies are necessary to discover the potential mechanisms that cause a sex-specific reduction in muscle strength during disuse-induced skeletal muscle wasting.
Patients were exercised 3 times a week for 12 weeks in a specifically devoted room. They were managed by a sport coach and supervised by a physician involved in geriatric medicine. Each training session comprises three 20-minutes activities, during which the patient is exercised successively for endurance, resistance, and balance. Endurance training consisted in slowly biking or walking. Resistance training consisted in exercising on strength machines specifically designed for older patients (Gamme R'Line Plus RG14, RG 20, RG 50, RG 39S, RG41).Swith small loads, joint and muscle safety protections, pneumatic resistances, and improved accessibility. Balance training consisted in both static and dynamic balance exercising. Extremity physical performances were measured at baseline (week 0, W0), after 6 (W6) and 12 (W12) training weeks. When the patients live hospital and do not want to pursue the training, the three tests were measured as well (hospital discharge).
The primary outcome was the feasibility of a MCETP defined as percentage of refusal, abandonment (≤1 session) and participation rate (> 1 session) at least 80% of sessions the patients were able to achieve without pain or any other adverse events. The secondary outcome was the effect on physical performances (RC, TGUG and GS) of MCETP.
Categorical results are presented as counts and percentages and as means  standard deviations (SD) for quantitative data. Feasibility of a MCETP was estimated by percentage and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Association between acceptation the training and clinical data was performed using t-test or Mann-Whitney test if non-normally distributed variables, for quantitative data. The Chi-2 test was used for categorical data. Self-perception of MCETP was dichotomized by moderate (included hard) vs light. A univariate mixed logistic regression was performed. Continuous variables were dichotomized based on median values. Improvement of physical performance was evaluated by paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test if non-normally distributed variables. All tests were two-sided at a 0.05 significance level. Analyses were carried out using R statistical software version 3.1.2.
Characteristics of patients included and feasibility of MCTEP in older inpatients Clinical characteristics of patients studied are described in Table 1. Among 51 patients who were asked for, 21 refused the training, 30 (58.8% [95%CI: 44%-72%]) achieved at least one training session, including 17 (33.3% [21%- 48%]) who completed more than a single session and 13(25,5% [14%- 40%]) who ceased the training after the first session. Patients who completed ≥1 training session had better MMSE than patients who refused (20.6 ± 4.8 vs 14.5 ± 5.4 p = 0.007). Patients who abandoned the training after a single session had a significantly higher body mass index than patients who completed >1 session 32.4 ± 9.3 vs 24.6 ± 5, p = 0.023). The 17 patients who completed >1 session (12 women, 70.6%) had a mean age of 83.4 ± 7.5 years, a mean MMSE score 21.2 ± 4.6. Most had no sarcopenia (10 of 13 ,76.9%) nor denutrition (12of 15, 80%), while 3 only (20%) received an additional nutritional support for denutrition. The mean associated comorbidities, as calculated with the CIRS-G was 7.4 ± 3.3. A total of 360 sessions were performed by these 17 patients (82.8%). The causes for which sessions were missed were mainly due (n=66, 88%) to simultaneous conventional hospital care or shortcomings (medical consultations, difficulties with patients' transportation). Among refusals, 4(8.9%) were explained by weakness, 2 (4.4%) by falls outside the training room during hospitalization, and the remaining 3 (6.6%) without explanation.
Table 1: Clinical characteristics of patients.
Self-Perception Of MCETP
A record about how the session was perceived was collected after 320 (88.9%) sessions, 1 (0.3%) was qualified hard, 105 (32.8%) moderate and 214 (66.9%) light. Table 2 shows selfperception of exertion according to the patients' characteristics. A MMSE >22, an albumin blood level >39g/L, an increase in TGUG performance >20%, an increase in gait speed > 15 % were associated with a lower level exercise self-perception whereas an age> 80 years was associated with a higher self-perceived exertion level. In addition, when patients were asked for their emotional perception of the training, no session was reported as unpleasant, 5 (1.6%) were reported with a neutral responses, and 311 (98.4%) were reported favorably.
Table 2: Factors associated with Self-perception of exertion in univariate analysis.
Improvement of Physical Performance at the End of MCETP
Among 17 patients who attended ≥1 training session, 7completed the entire program, 2failed to finish the training program when data were collected, and the remaining 8 disliked further continuation of the program while discharged from hospital. Table 3 shows the changes in physical performance tests, RC, TGUG, and gait speed in the 17 patients. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed for all tests between W0 and W6, W0 and W6, W0, and LD (latest data). Overall the training program improved RC of 29%, TGUG of 33% and gait speed of 50%. Only 4 patients had no substantial improvement in gait speed, but they were no longer dependent of their stick or walker after the training.
Table 3: Improvement of physical performances at the end of MCETP: *Latest data (LD), obtained at the end of the training program, whatever the cause of its discontinuation, are compared with baseline (W0). LD is the most recent result observed between W6, W12 and the hospital discharge. LD varies from 4 to 12 weeks RC: rising from a chair test; TGUG: timed get up and go test; GS: gait speed.
Safety of MCETP
No training related medical event or complication occurred in the study group. Patients remained pain-free after 308 (96.6%) sessions. One mild hip pain occurred after one session without recurrence after the subsequent sessions. Knee pains occurred in a patient during the 2 first sessions, related to a too heavy start load at the quadriceps machine. These pains disappeared after load reset during the subsequent session. A too hard cushion on the tibial crest resulted in pain 8 times. The cushion was successfully changed without further complaint.
Although previous exercise interventions demonstrated improvements in several outcome measurements in frail older patients, large differences between studies with regards to patients included, exercise programs, program duration, and effect sizes were observed [6]. By contrast with previous studies, in which community-dwelling older persons living in residential care facilities were included mainly, our patients were recruited from an acute care and rehabilitation teaching hospital, and, in turn with a presumably more impaired state of health. Our results show that a high-intensity, short-duration rehabilitation program favorably impacts physical capacities of patients. Physical performances of our patients improved substantially, even more than what was initially expected. This was attributed to the multi-component approach the patients were exercised with and to the low load, elderly-adapted design of the training machines used. Previous studies showed favorable outcomes obtained in exercised older persons. In its meta-analysis, De Vries [6] found only small to moderate effects of physical exercise therapy on physical performances among frail older patients. He mentioned two studies with major physical effects compared with other multicomponent interventions. Jette [23] described an improvement in TUG of 1 second after a sixthmonths training in a 75-years mean age population, in which initial TUG was 13.7 seconds (7% progress). Our study shows much better improvements: 29 % with a 10 seconds difference compared with baseline. Bean et al. [24] evaluated a sixth month progressive resistance training intervention in 77-year-old women. They showed significant improvements in gait speed (start mean: 0.8m/s with 0.13m/s improvement, 7%) but these results were less marked as those observed in our study (start mean: 0.4 with 0.2 m/s improvement, 50%).However, Bean showed better improvement in CRA (start mean measurement: 18.5 s with an improvement of 8 s, 43%). Our study found a start measurement: 20 s with 5.9s improvement, 29%.
The training program developed in our study was evaluated in older patients and not in community dwelling, nursing home or home living subjects. Also, our results found worse baseline measurements for the physical tests. All our patients were frail, according to their gait speed measurement. Even if our patients pursued the training only when their health status was stabilized, we cannot affirm that the observed improvements are the exclusive effects of the multi-component exercise program and not partly related to the improvements related to simultaneous conventional hospital care. In this preliminary study, high-intensity training can be proposed safety and improves functional capacity and physical performance of frail hospitalized older patients. These results have to be confirmed in a prospective, randomized controlled trial to follow
We thank Mathieu Alcotte, Sandrine Cece, Bernadette Moreau and Gina Rakotovao for their great involvement in the program.
Author Contribution: All authors provided critical intellectual interpretation and manuscript revision and read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Sponsor's Role: None.
Ethical Standards: The experiments comply with the current laws of the country
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(2010) Rehabilitation Measures Team. Rehab Measures 10 Meter Walk Test Rehabilitations Database.
Podsiadlo D, Richardson S (1991) The timed up-and-go: a test of basic functional mobility for frail elderly persons. J Am Geriatr Soc 39 (2): 142-148.
Jette AM, Lachman M, Giorgetti MM, S F Assmann, B A Harris, et al. (1999) Exercise--it's never too late: the strong-for-life program. Am J Public Health 89(1): 66-72.
Bean JF, Herman S, Kiely DK, Frey IC, Leveille SG, et al. (2004) Increased Velocity Exercise Specific to Task (InVEST) training: a pilot study exploring effects on leg power, balance, and mobility in communitydwelling older women. J Am Geriatr Soc 52(5): 799-804.
Toshinori Yoshihara* and Hisashi Naito
Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Japan
Abbreviations: PMCETP: Multi-Component Exercise Training Program; EWGOS: European Working Group on Sarcopenia; GA: Geriatric Assessment; CIRSG: Cumulative Illness Rating Scale Geriatric
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text:
Alterations is a two-part 1988 Australian television film for the ABC shot in 1987 at Canberra. It deals with a married couple and their respective affairs. The cast consists of the following:
 Richard Moir as Richard
 Angela Punch-McGregor as Ann
 Linden Wilkinson as Martha
 Steven Jacobs as Michael
 Gillian Jones as Rachel
 Alan David Lee as Robert
 Kim Krejus as Eleanor
 Karen Linley as Alice (child in 1983)
 Michelle Linley as Alice (child in 1986)
 Tim Drummond as Duncan (child in 1983)
 Scott Bartle as Duncan (child in 1986)

References

External links

Australian television films
1988 television films
1988 films
Films directed by Julian Pringle
1980s English-language films

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Aid groups under attack in Yemen as specter of famine looms
By Tom Murphy on 28 August 2015 0
Yemen, Near Sa'ada, Majaz health centre supported by the ICRC, women's section. This is the main centre supported by the ICRC in the north of Yemen. (ICRC / C. Martin-Chico)
A violent attack on its office forced the International Committee of the Red Cross to suspend its activities in the Yemeni city of Aden. It is the latest pressure on humanitarian groups struggling to provide assistance in a country that may be on the brink of famine.
"This is not the first time that we have had a security incident in Aden," said the ICRC's head of sub-delegation in the city, Samer Jarjouhi, in a release. "This is not acceptable and we have relocated staff until the situation improves."
The attackers, armed with guns, stormed the ICRC office in Aden on Monday. Staff were held at gunpoint while the assailants stole money, cars and equipment from the office. No injuries were suffered during the incident. The ICRC says it relocated 14 staff from Aden.
A spokesperson told Agence France-Presse that the ICRC will continue providing humanitarian assistance in other parts of Yemen. Aden remains fragile in the month since government forces regained control from rebels. Monday's attack was least the 10th incident experienced by the aid group in the embattled country. A rocket attack last week on Aden Gov. Nayef al-Bakri killed four and wounded 20 people.
Aid groups struggle to provide assistance in Yemen due to the insecurity. The lack of access and inability to provide proper support make it harder to alleviate the growing humanitarian problem in Yemen. The World Food Program issued a warning last week that the country is headed toward famine if things do not get better.
(Credit: OCHA)
"Right now, the conflict-driven convergence between the lack of staple food, access to clean water and a diminished fuel supply create the dawn of a perfect storm for the most vulnerable Yemeni people," said WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin in a news release. "The disruption in the commercial food sector creates significant reductions in imports which causes an inflationary effect on market prices for food and other basic commodities."
Cousin visited three Yemeni cities – including Aden – prior to issuing the comments. The U.N. agency estimates 1.2 million children are already suffering from moderate acute malnutrition. That is in addition to the more than 500,000 who face severe acute malnutrition. Money, as always, is in short supply for the response, but security is a major obstacle.
Lack of food security is worst in the areas of Yemen where conflict is worst. It is well known that famines are not caused by weather alone, but forces – such as war – that prevent food from reaching people and families earning incomes to pay for what little food is available. The factors that contribute to famine are playing out in Yemen – and concerns are growing.
Aden famine hunger ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross malnutrition Red Cross Yemen
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text:
Job growth remains slow in September, but unemployment rate falls to 3.5 percent
Manufacturing employment hit a record low as a share of private sector employment.
SOURCECEPR
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the economy added 136,000 jobs in September, after adding 168,000 in August. The 157,000 average for the last three months is considerably slower than the 179,000 average for the last year, but this slowing is expected in a tight labor market.
The September job growth led to a 0.2 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate to 3.5 percent, a fifty-year low. The employment-to-population ratio (EPOP) rose 0.1 percentage point to 61.0 percent, a new high for the recovery that is 0.6 percentage points above the year-ago level.
The EPOPs for both prime-age (ages 25 to 54) men and women rose by 0.1 percentage point in September. The 74.0 percent rate for women is a new high for the recovery, although still below the peak of 74.9 percent hit in April of 2000. The 86.4 percent rate for men is 0.3 percentage points below the March level and 1.6 percentage points below the prerecession peak.
The unemployment rate for Hispanics fell to 3.9 percent, the lowest on record, 0.6 percentage points below the year-ago level. The unemployment rate for workers without a high school degree also fell sharply to 4.8 percent, 0.8 percentage points below the year-ago level. The share of unemployment due to voluntary quits, a measure of workers' confidence in their labor market prospects, jumped 1.7 percentage points to 14.6 percent, a level more typical for a strong labor market.
Other data in the household survey were more mixed. While the mean duration of unemployment spells edged down 0.1 weeks to 22.0 weeks, the median duration rose 0.5 weeks to 9.4 weeks. The share of long-term unemployed also rose by 2.1 percentage points to 22.7 percent.
The number of involuntary part-time workers edged down by 31,000. The number of workers choosing to work part-time also fell, dropping by 124,000 in September. The percentage of the workforce choosing to work part-time has been dropping over the last year, after rising sharply following the implementation of the ACA. This likely due to workers having greater difficulty getting health care outside of employment.
Another negative item is an increase in the number of multiple job holders, especially among women. The share of employed women who have multiple jobs rose to 5.9 percent, 0.5 percentage points above the year-ago level. The vast majority of these women report that they work a second job in addition to a full-time job.
The picture on the establishment side is more negative. Slower job growth is to be expected in a tighter labor market, but it has virtually stopped altogether on the goods-producing side. The goods-producing sector has added a total of just 2,000 jobs over the last three months, with construction adding 8,000 jobs, manufacturing adding 4,000, and mining and logging losing 10,000. A big part of this is the fallout from the trade war and the resulting drop in investment. Also, lower world oil prices are a big hit to the mining sector. The manufacturing share of private sector employment sunk to a new all-time low in September of 9.96 percent.
On the service side, job growth in the high-paying professional and technical services sector has slowed sharply in the last two months, added an average of 13,900, compared to an average of 23,900 over the last year. Restaurant employment has also slowed sharply, with the sector adding an average of just 1,500 jobs over the last four months. This should be expected in a tight labor market, where workers have higher-paying options. Retail lost 11,400 jobs in September, bringing its losses over the last year to 60,900, just under 0.4 percent of total employment.
A big job gainer in recent months is health care, which added 38,800 jobs in September after adding 37,200 in August. The sector has accounted for almost a third of job growth in the private sector over the last two months.
In contrast to the evidence of a tight labor market in the household survey, wage growth appears to be slowing slightly. The average hourly wage rose 2.9 percent over the last year, although the annualized rate of wage growth, comparing the last three months (July, August, September) with the prior three months (April, May, June), was a slightly higher 3.4 percent.
This is a generally positive report with some serious warning signs. The goods sector is very weak and likely to get weaker, according to a wide variety of measures of manufacturing. The evidence of slowing wage growth is also striking in a labor market with 3.5 percent unemployment.
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The trend in automation toward smaller, multifunctional components marches on. One of the latest developments is pneumatic multifunctional flow-control valves in machines that produce infusion and blood bags. These valves shorten assembly time and cut installation space in half.
When manufacturing bags for medical fluids, extreme precision and high production speeds are of the utmost importance. The systems produced by Kiefel GmbH, Freilassing Germany, meet both requirements: The company specializes in developing and building systems for thermoforming and joining polymer films. Its machines for manufacturing infusion bags based on the contact welding method produce up to 6,500 bags per hour, while systems for making blood bags based on the high-frequency welding method produce up to 2,500 units.
Pneumatic components from Festo can be found in all Kiefel machines. The compact VFOF-LE-BAH valves offer one-way flow control, reducing assembly time and installation space requirements while making maintenance easier.
The new one-way flow control valves not only control the piston speed of cylinders, but also allow for an intermediate stop in a predefined position. Parts can be held and processed in this position, and lowering in the event of the compressed air being disconnected briefly can be prevented. To reduce potential risks as per the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, a manual exhaust function is used which switches the drive to the energy-free state if the compressed air supply has been disconnected.
This high-production machine relies heavily on pneumatics technology for fast and precise manufacturing of 6,500 infusion bags per hour.
Along with VFOF-LE-BAH, several other Festo components ensure efficient pneumatic processes in Kiefel systems. These include service units for compressed air preparation, valve terminals, and individual valves and cylinders. The latter are used, for example, to move the grippers for feeding the film and to operate punching, embossing, printing, and welding equipment.
Although the individual systems from Kiefel are all used to produce different products, the fundamental automation principle behind the medical technology machines is the same. The process is best illustrated by a new system for manufacturing infusion bags. In the first step, the film is unrolled. Dancer rollers perform a buffer function to cushion the synchronized motion sequences. They isolate the power from the machine, which is needed to set the parent roller in motion.
This is followed by contactless electrostatic cleaning of the film and application of the product-specific information in the printing station. The system laterally feeds a film with the print medium. The inlet and outlet tubes for fluids such as blood or infusion solutions are then welded on. In the next processing step the entire bag is welded and the cooling systems then reduce the temperature of the welded sections. Finally, the bags are separated by punching or cutting, placed on a conveyor, and transported onwards.
Festo's VFOF-LE-BAH offers three advantages over conventional one-way flow-control valves: small size, easy installation, and on-cylinder mounting.
Until a year ago, two pneumatic control elements—Festo's GRLA one-way flow control valve and HGL shut-off valve—were still required on many cylinders. The GRLA was used to adjust the flow rate, while the HGL blocked the flow in one direction. The blocked connection could be opened again by a control signal. Both valves are still installed in systems where called for by the design specifications.
In other areas, however, the VFOF-LE-BAH valves offer the advantage of integrating three functions: variable piston speed, short intermediate stop, and individual manual exhaust. The efficient control element therefore saves time and money and reduces the installation space by more than 5%. (For more on space-saving techniques, see "Avoiding the Crowd.") It is easy to operate and assemble and can be used everywhere. The pneumatic control elements offer versatile functionality, are energy-efficient and non-polluting, and reduce compressed air losses.
The VFOF-LE-BAH offers easy adjustment of cylinder speed, in large part because of its on-cylinder mounting.
Kronawitter also sees benefits for his company in the extensive portfolio of Festo pneumatic products, as well as in the fast, worldwide spare parts delivery service. "This has permanently reduced our warehousing requirements," he says. With the one-way flow control valve VFOF-LE-BAH, Festo has opened up new possibilities in terms of time and space savings for Kiefel.


text:
By Robert Gordon May 11th, 2012 11:03pm
This week we take another tour around the minors to look at who's hot, who's not, who's on the DL, and who is on the brink of having a true breakout. The early promotion of top prospect Bryce Harper (OF, WAS) continues to be the story of the year at the minor league level. With teams increasingly willing to sign young players to long-term contracts prior to free-agency—effectively buying out their arbitration eligible years—it will be interesting to see if other teams follow the Nationals lead and promote their top prospects ahead of the Super Two arbitration deadline.
The Chicago Cubs Anthony Rizzo (1B) looks ready for another shot at the majors. After 30 games at Triple-A Iowa, the 22-year-old is hitting .347/.419/.645 with 6 doubles, 10 home runs, and a 13 BB/27 K in 121 AB. With Bryan LaHair putting up even better numbers in the majors, the Cubs could try and shift one of the two to the OF. One thing is clear: the club's anemic offense could use all the help it can get.
The oft-injured Fernando Martinez (OF, HOU) is in the midst of one of his infrequent runs of health and productivity. The 23-year-old Martinez has played in 33 of his clubs 35 contests and is hitting .310/.371/.524 with 9 doubles, 6 home runs, and 11 BB/25 K in 126 AB. He is also moving well in the fields and was named the Triple-A defensive player of the month for April. All of the normal caveats about durability and consistency still apply, but Martinez does have talent.
The St. Louis Cardinals Matt Adams (1B) looks ready to make his big league debut; unfortunately there isn't a place for him to play. The Cardinals moved the hot-hitting Allen Craig to 1B when Lance Berkman hit the DL, making it likely that Adams won't see significant playing time until late 2012 or even early 2013. To his credit, Adams has not let this discourage him and on the year is hitting .310/.358/.504 with 7 doubles, 5 home runs, and 9 BB/21 K in 113 AB.
The Chicago White Sox Jordan Danks (OF) is having his best professional season since 2009. The 25-year-old OF is in his 3rd season with Triple-A Charlotte and for the year is hitting .295/.411/.514 with 6 doubles, 5 home runs, 4 SB, and 22 BB/30 K in 105 AB. Danks looks more like a 4th OF now, but he does still have a decent combination of speed and power.
The Kansas City Royals Wil Myers (OF) continues his ridiculously hot start. Myers homered in 4 straight games this week and for the year is now hitting .342/.405/.718 with 9 doubles and 11 home runs in 117 AB. The only negative is that he continues to strike out frequently (37 whiffs already). It would not be surprising to see Myers moved up to Triple-A or even the majors by mid-season.
The Kansas City Royals Chris Dwyer (LHP) hasn't had much to write home about in 2012, at least not until he contributed to a combined no-hitter on 5/10 vs. Double-A Springfield. Dwyer tossed 6.2 innings of no-hit ball, walking 2 while striking out 5. On the year, Dwyer is now 2-4 with a 5.91 ERA, 19 BB/27 K, and a .234 BAA in 32 IP.
The Minnesota Twins Joe Benson (OF) was demoted to Double-A New Britain after struggling at Triple-A. Prior to being sent down, Benson was hitting just .179/.268/.316 in 95 AB. Benson remains a decent power/speed prospect, but will need to prove he can hit at higher levels before he gets another shot at the majors.
The Milwaukee Brewers Tyler Thornburg (RHP) has yet to hit a significant road bump in 2012. After 7 starts for Double-A Huntsville, the 23-year-old righty is 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA, 11 BB/47 K, and a .183 BAA in 41 IP. While Wily Peralta is likely still ahead of him on the Brewers depth chart, Thornburg has shown better control and more consistency.
Oscar Taveras (OF, STL) has been one of the most impressive prospects in baseball for the past year-and-a-half. Taveras combines the ability to hit for average with plus power and solid defense. Taveras was skipped over High-A after hitting .386 in the MWL in '11. So far the jump has not presented a problem and Taveras is hitting .331/.378/.678 with 10 doubles, 9 home runs, and 30 RBI in 38 games.
The Cleveland Indians Nick Weglarz (OF) hasn't looked the same since injuring his knee last spring. The 24-year-old Weglarz was limited to 134 AB in '11 and hit just .179. This year has not been any better and after 23 games Weglarz is hitting .213/.308/.350 for Double-A Akron. The clock is certainly ticking here and Weglarz will need to show more soon.
The Dodgers Allen Webster (RHP) has run into a buzz saw at Double-A Chattanooga. After 7 starts, the 22-year Webster is 1-5 with an ugly 7.49 ERA. Poor control and an inability to miss bats have been the main culprits as Webster has walked 14 in 33.2 and has a .359 BAA. This is his 2nd stint at Double-A and his continued lack of production is definitely cause for concern.
The Padres Casey Kelly (RHP) has been sidelined since 4/11 with a sore elbow. Kellys had two MRIs, but nothing conclusive has been announced. The 22-year-old Kelly was off to a nice start with a 2.25 ERA and 0 BB/14 K in 12 IP. Hopefully he can avoid surgery as the Padres starting rotation is in a state of flux and a healthy Casey Kelly could provide some much needed stability.
The Mets Zack Wheeler (RHP) was back in action on 5/10 after missing one start with a finger injury. The 6'4" righty gave up 2 ER in 5 innings while striking out 7. On the year, Wheeler is 1-2 with a 1.75 ERA, 14 BB/30 K, and a .198 BAA in 25.2 IP and continues to make steady progress.
The Dodgers Ethan Martin (RHP) is doing much better since he escaped the CAL last spring. Martin was 4-4 with a 7.36 ERA in 16 outings in the CAL. The Dodgers moved him up to Double-A just to get him out of the CAL and that seems have done the trick. In 7 starts in 2012, the 22-year-old Martin is 4-0 with a 2.81 ERA, 22 BB/ 39 K in 41.2 IP. Lack of control continues to be a problem, but hitters have a hard time making consistent contact against Martin (.169 BAA) so there is still a lot to like here.
Miguel Sano (3B, MIN) might have the best power upside of any player in the low minors. After smashing 20 home runs in 267 AB in '11, the 18-year-old Sano is hitting .298/.409/.645 with 9 doubles, 10 home runs, and 20 BB/40 K in 115 AB for Low-A Beloit. Sano still has lots of work to do, but long-term has the potential to hit 30+ home runs in the majors.
The Colorado Rockies Tyler Matzek (LHP) is struggling again with his control. The 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft walked 96 in 97 IP last year and so far this year has walked 31 in 31.2 IP. Matzek remains tough to hit (.212 BAA) and has a respectable 3.98 ERA, but eventually the walks will come home to roost. A move to the pen could be in the future if Matzek can't make progress quickly.
Jacob Turner (RHP, DET) seems to have righted the ship after a slow start. The 21-year-old Turner was shut down earlier this spring with a sore shoulder, but in his 4 starts since returning to action he is 1-2 with a 1.66 ERA, 7 BB/17 K, and a .218 BAA in 21.2 IP. Turner likely isn't ready to contribute in the majors, but a bump up to Double-A seems likely.
The Detroit Tigers Dan Fields (OF) is on the shelf with an abdominal muscle tear that will require surgery. The 21-year-old Fields has yet to live up to expectations. The 2009 6th round pick now has a career minor league line of .231/.323/.351 and is in his 3rd season at High-A Lakeland.
The Chicago Cubs Hayden Simpson (RHP) has been moved to relief for High-A Daytona. The 16th overall pick in the 2010 draft has been a complete bust so far and his career minor league stat line now reads 2-13, 6.37 ERA and 53 BB/68 K in 102 IP.
Toronto's Marcus Knecht (OF) has struggled to get on track this spring after having a breakout season '11. Knecht had a 4-5 night on 5/8, but for the year is hitting just .193/.254/.395 with 41 strikeouts in 114 AB. It is too soon to write Knecht off, but the 2010 3rd rounder will need to make some adjustments soon.
The Boston Red Sox Brandon Workman (RHP) continues to develop into a solid prospect. After a nice debut in '11, the 6'4" righty is holding his own at High-A Salem where he is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA, 5 BB/22K in 21 IP. Workman has a solid 91-94 mph fastball, a cutter, and an inconsistent change-up. Double-A will provide Workman with a better test, but so far the results have been very good for this 2010 2nd round pick.
The San Diego Padres Adys Portillo (RHP) is bouncing back in a big way in '12. Portillo had a disastrous campaign in in the MWL last year, going 3-11 with a 7.11 ERA, 55 BB/97 K in 82.1 IP. After 7 starts back in the MWL, Portillo is 2-1 with a 1.41 ERA. He is still walking too many batters (17 in 38.1 IP), but has been very difficult to hit.


text:
Mobile business props up dwindling Telecom sales
By Pattrick Smellie, Fri 22 Feb 2013
Telecom Corp, the country's biggest phone company, eked out a 3.7 percent lift in first-half underlying earnings as revenue from its mobile business propped up otherwise disappointing sales.
Stripping out one-off items from the Chorus demerger a year earlier, adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose to $506 million in in the six months ended Dec. 31 from $488 million a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement.
Telecom's sales fell 8.5 percent to $2.14 billion, with mobile the only unit to report a gain rising 2.2 percent to $455 million, making it the biggest earner for the company.
Forsyth Barr analyst Jeremy Simpson was expecting adjusted ebitda of $503 million on sales of $2.27 billion.
"Mobile revenue is higher on the back of demand growth and there has been good growth in net customer connections since the closure of the CDMA network," chairman Mark Verbiest said.
"These revenue shifts reflect the major global trends as the telecommunications sector is becoming increasingly focused on mobile and data."
Telecom's mobile base shrank 15 percent to 1.72 million customers as at Dec. 31, though that came from the closure of the CDMA network and was associated with the churn of low-value users. Average revenue per user jumped 19 percent to $34.61 from the same period a year earlier.
Statutory net profit plunged 84 percent to $162 million, or 9 cents per share, from a period when shareholders reaped $877 million from the distribution of Chorus shares. Stripping out the Chorus effect, profit rose 26 percent.
Telecom firmed up its annual earnings guidance, saying adjusted ebitda will probably be between $1.04 billion and $1.06 billion, down from $1.09 billion a year earlier. It had previously signalled flat to single digit decline in annual adjusted ebitda.
Chief executive Simon Moutter said the change was due to a more competitive broadband market and softening in Gen-i's outlook.
"We have a highly complex business and our operating costs are higher than our industry peers," Moutter said. "We believe it is imperative that we move quickly to execute the new strategy and we must have a competitive cost base to succeed in a fast-changing marketplace."
Telecom plans to share the details of its new corporate strategy with investors in May, with new boss Moutter spending the start of his tenure testing the waters to figure out what will make the company more competitive.
The board declared an interim dividend of 8 cents per share, down from 9 cents a year earlier, payable on April 5 with a record date of March 15.
The shares were unchanged at $2.235 in trading yesterday, and have slipped 1.8 percent this year. The stock is rated an average 'hold' based on 10 analyst recommendations compiled by Reuters, with a median target price $2.30.
Telecom's wholesale and international unit lifted adjusted earnings 5.6 percent to $113 million on a 7.4 percent fall in sales to $312 million. The unit got cheaper intercarrier costs from lower costs per minute and its arrangements with Chorus, with sales hit by falling international calls.
Retail increased earnings 3.2 percent to $357 million on a 3.5 percent decline in sales to $928 million. Mobile propped up the unit with broadband sales down on cheaper pricing, and the increase in earnings came from cheaper arrangements with Chorus.
Gen-i's earnings fell 1.6 percent to $186 million on a 4.9 percent decline in sales to $639 million as it faced increasing price competition and had fewer customers on the legacy copper-line services it delivers.
AAPT ebitda shrank 10 percent to $36 million on a 29 percent fall in sales to $263 million as the Australian unit went through the last transition of the sale of its consumer division.
Telecom received a smaller dividend from the Southern Cross Cable of $19 million in the period, compared to $26 million a year earlier. This week, the company teamed up with rivals Vodafone New Zealand and Telstra to look at paying for a new-trans-Tasman cable.
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Just over two months ago, smartglasses startup North opened the doors at its two brick-and-mortar retail locations in Toronto and New York and began accepting orders for Focals. On Thursday, the company announced that those initial customers can get ready to pick up their wearables, as the first shipments have now arrived in stores.
Additionally, customers in North America who don't live in the two aforementioned cities will soon be able to get fitted for a pair of Focals in their own backyard.
Currently, the devices require custom sizing to ensure proper alignment of the smartglasses for each customer, hence the requirement to physically order a pair in person. Now, in order to expand its reach, North will begin opening pop-up stores in major North American cities starting in April. Exact locations and times will be revealed at a later date.
"Last year we approached the smartglasses category with an entirely new concept: smartglasses that look awesome. It's been incredible to see how this approach has resonated with our customers, and I've personally loved watching everyone share their experiences at our Showrooms," said Stephen Lake, CEO and co-founder of North, in a statement.
"Today is a big day for us as we put the first Focals in the hands of customers. I can't wait to bring that experience to even more people through our new mobile pop-ups."
North's Focals, which are priced at $999, can claim the flag as the first company out of the gate with augmented reality smartglasses in the wild that appeal to mainstream consumers in terms of delivering a fashionable look.
However, the Focals augmented reality experience is more limited in utility than higher-end devices in that the glasses mostly serve as a heads-up display for weather, navigation, messaging, rideshare hailing, and interaction with voice-activated digital assistant Alexa.
Similarly, the Vuzix Blade, which resembles a bulkier pair of Oakley sunglasses compared to Focals' Warby Parker-ish stylings, mirrors North's heads-up display approach, but also offers a camera for capturing images and video (and potentially some ARCore-enabled AR content) at the same price point.
Alternatively, in terms of smaller AR wearables, the Nreal Light was recently demonstrated at CES 2019, boasting augmented reality capabilities approaching those offered by Magic Leap One, but packed into more fashionable frames (though not yet available to order).
Which mix of form, function, and price will hit the sweet spot with smartglasses consumers? That remains to be seen. But North is making a strong case that, at least in the near term, fashionable form may trump advanced AR functions in the realm of mainstream consumers.


text:
> AI Research
> Goals
AI Research on Goals - Dictionary of Arguments
Bostrom I 126
Goals/superintelligence/AI Research/Bostrom: Is it possible to say anything about what a superintelligence with a decisive
I 127
strategic advantage would want?
Motivation/intelligence/superintelligent will/orthogonality/Bostrom: Intelligent search for instrumentally optimal plans and policies can be performed in the service of any goal. Intelligence and motivation are in a sense orthogonal: we can think of them as two axes spanning a graph in which each point represents a logically possible artificial agent. Some qualifications could be added to this picture. For instance, it might be impossible for a very unintelligent system to have very complex motivations.
Def Orthogonality thesis/Bostrom: Intelligence and final goals are orthogonal: more or less any level of intelligence could in principle be combined with more or less any final goal.
According to the orthogonality thesis, artificial agents can have utterly non-anthropomorphic goals.
-Predictability through design:
(…) even before an agent has been created we might be able to predict something about its behavior, if we know something about who will build it and what goals they will want it to have.
-Predictability through inheritance. If a digital intelligence is created directly from a human template (as would be the case in a high-fidelity whole brain emulation), then the digital intelligence might inherit the motivations of the human template.
-Predictability through convergent instrumental reasons: (…) we may be able to infer something about its more immediate objectives by considering the instrumental reasons that would arise for any of a wide range of possible final goals in a wide range of situations.
Def Instrumental convergence thesis/Bostrom: Several instrumental values can be identified which are convergent in the sense that their attainment would increase the chances of the agent's goal being realized for a wide range of final goals and a wide range of situations, implying that these instrumental values are likely to be pursued by a broad spectrum of situated intelligent agents. >Goals/Omohundro.
Where there are convergent instrumental values, we may be able to predict some aspects of a superintelligence's behavior:
-Self-preservation: Most humans seem to place some final value on their own survival. This is not a necessary feature of artificial agents: some may be designed to place no final value whatever on their own survival.
-Goal-content integrity: If an agent retains its present goals into the future, then its present goals will be more likely to be achieved by its future self. This gives the agent a present instrumental reason to
prevent alterations of its final goals. For software agents, which can easily switch bodies or create exact duplicates of themselves, preservation of self as a particular implementation or a particular physical object need not be an important instrumental value. Advanced software agents might also be able to swap memories, download skills, and radically modify their cognitive architecture and personalities.
Orthogonality thesis/Bostrom: (see above) the orthogonality thesis suggests that we cannot blithely assume that a superintelligence will necessarily share any of the final values stereotypically associated with wisdom and intellectual development in humans (…).
Goals/ethics/morality/superintelligence/Bostrom: Consider, for example, the following "reasons-based" goal:
Do whatever we would have had most reason to ask the AI to do.
((s)VsBostrom: Here it is assumed that the AI has no reason to falsify our intentions.
Bostrom: components for choices of behavior:
-Goal content: What objective should the AI pursue? How should a description of this objective be interpreted?
-Decision theory: Should the AI use causal decision theory, evidential decision theory, updateless decision theory, or something else?
-Epistemology: What should the AI's prior probability function be (…).What theory of anthropics should it use?
-Ratification: Should the AI's plans be subjected to human review before being put into effect? If so, what is the protocol for that review process?
>Ethics/superintelligence/Bostrom, >Ethics/superintelligence/Yudkowsky, >Norms/Bostrom.
The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. AI Research
Bostrom I
Nick Bostrom
Superintelligence. Paths, Dangers, Strategies Oxford: Oxford University Press 2017


It was dawn and the hope of a new day appeared. The sun was shining, filling the little garden with various colors.
She opened the windows, allowing the morning air and the rays of the bright star to fill the rooms of the house.
Everything seemed to sing joys, in the symphony of the birds and in the light breeze. Everything but her heart.
Elderly, after an illness that had disabled her, she felt that day by day the forces were abandoning her. The body weighed, the steps were not so fast.
More than anything, the sadness in her soul spoke of the pains she experienced and the problems of the now. Strangely enough, the difficulties of the childhood, the adolescence loomed over her.
Money always short, almost lacking. The many desires of childhood never met because the superfluous could not be cogitated in her home.
The premature deaths of her brothers, of her parents, all added up in a body of bitterness. Why? – She wondered. Why do so many sad memories assail myself, from some time on?
The nights were filled with dreams in which she met the loved ones who had been departure. And everything seemed like a great preparation for her own death.
Death. In those weeks, which were adding up, this was her most constant thought. When would she leave? How would it be?
That, she knew, only God, the Father was aware. No one else. The only certainty was that she would leave, someday, that she believed would be brief.
Many of our elderly people live in a more or less similar situation. Almost always, they live it in the intimacy of their hearts, without speaking of their feelings.
And that leads to depression, which robs their forces and accelerates the departure. It is important that we remain close, watch them.
Long silences, distant glances like trying to glimpse the pictures of the Spirituality where they soon will be transferred to, are signs that must draw attention to us.
Let us be alert. Some will say that we are giving them assistance, that we provide them with the home, food, health care.
But, their great problem is called, in synthesis, nostalgia.
They have seen their most beloved ones leave. The parents went away, children, friends. Life, which seemed like a flowery garden, is getting less flowers each day.
And then, our elders, too, like flowers that bloomed long ago, which for a long time sprinkled their perfume and their coloring, begin to wither.
Caring is what they ask for. More precise health care. Sometimes, a therapist to whom they can tell, without fearing to hurt, stab or worry, what goes on in their soul.
Since the sorrow that have been dammed, throughout the years the worried about the until soon. Will they become invalid? Will they suffer long diseases? When will they leave?
Let us pay attention to these flowers that have perfumed our homes so much and which now bend to the ground, like weary stems.
Let us serve them, today, now. They are the loves of our lives: grandparents, mothers, fathers, other relatives that have caressed our childhood, the happy days.


text:
//
// Created by marcel on 03.12.16.
//

#ifndef CEGIS_CEGIS_H
#define CEGIS_CEGIS_H

#include <iostream>
#include <chrono>
#include <boost/optional.hpp>
#include <boost/format.hpp>
#include <z3++.h>

/**
 * Handler for Counter Example Guided Inductive Synthesis (CEGIS) routine for the SMT solver z3.
 */
class CEGISHandler {

private:
    /**
     * A class representing an implementation, i.e. a valuation to the implementation variables.
     */
    class Implementation {

    private:
        /**
         * The given model to store the valuation.
         */
        const z3::model model;

    public:
        /**
         * The constructor. Takes a model to store the current valuation determined by the implementationSolver.
         *
         * @param mdl A model representing the implementation valuation.
         */
        Implementation(const z3::model & mdl);

        /**
         * Extracts constraints from the stored model concerning the implementation variables, i.e. extracts an
         * expression stating that the given implementation variables should have the values they have in the model.
         *
         * @param implVars The variables for which the valuation is sought.
         * @return A constraint forcing implVars to have the same valuation as they originally had in the stored
         *         model.
         */
        const z3::expr extractConstraints(const z3::expr_vector & implVars,
                                                z3::context     * ctx) const;
        /**
         * Returns the valuation to the given variable. Returns the variable itself iff no valuation exists.
         *
         * @return The valuation to the given (implementation) variables.
         */
        const z3::expr getValuation(z3::expr var) const;
    }; // Implementation

    /**
     * Class representing a counter example within the CEGIS routine, i.e. a valuation to the input variables
     * so that the current implementation works incorrectly.
     */
    class CounterExample {

    private:
        /**
         * The given model to store the valuation.
         */
        const z3::model model;
        /**
         * A serial number.
         */
        const size_t id;

    public:
        /**
         * Constructor of the CounterExample. Takes a model to store the current valuation determined by
         * the counterExampleSolver.
         *
         * @param mdl A model representing the counter example valuation.
         */
        CounterExample(const z3::model & mdl);
        /**
         * Default copy constructor.
         *
         * @param ce CounterExample to be copied.
         */
        CounterExample(const CounterExample & ce) = default;
        /**
         * Move constructor.
         *
         * @param ce CounterExample to be moved.
         */
        CounterExample(CounterExample && ce);

        /**
         * Extracts constraints from the stored model concerning the input variables, i.e. extracts an expression
         * stating that the given input variables should have the values they have in the model.
         *
         * @param inputVars The variables for which the valuation is sought.
         * @param templ A pattern to relabel the variables concerning to the actual counter example number.
         * @return A constraint forcing relabeled inputVars to have the same valuation as they originally
         *         had in the stored model.
         */
        const z3::expr extractConstraints(const z3::expr_vector & inputVars,
                                                boost::format     templ,
                                                z3::context     * ctx) const;

        /**
         * Returns the serial number.
         *
         * @return The serial number.
         */
        const size_t getNumber() const;
    }; // CounterExample

    /**
     * Alias to use as findImplementation() return type.
     */
    using ImplementationPair = std::pair<boost::optional<Implementation>, z3::check_result>;
    /**
     * Returns the boost::optional<Implementation> of an ImplementationPair.
     *
     * @param implP ImplementationPair.
     * @return First value of implP, namely the optional Implementation.
     */
    static inline const boost::optional<Implementation> & getOImpl(const ImplementationPair & implP) { return implP.first; }
    /**
     * Returns the Implementation of an ImplementationPair.
     *
     * @param implP ImplementationPair.
     * @return First value of implP, namely the Implementation.
     */
    static inline const Implementation & getImpl(const ImplementationPair & implP) { return implP.first.get(); }
    /**
     * Returns the result of an ImplementationPair.
     *
     * @param implP ImplementationPair.
     * @return Second value of implP, namely the result returned by Z3.
     */
    static inline const z3::check_result & getResult(const ImplementationPair & implP) { return implP.second; }
    /**
     * Alias to use as findCounterExample() return type.
     */
    using CounterExamplePair = std::pair<boost::optional<CounterExample>, z3::check_result>;
    /**
     * Returns the boost::optional<CounterExample> of a CounterExamplePair.
     *
     * @param ceP CounterExamplePair.
     * @return First value of ceP, namely the optional CounterExample.
     */
    static inline const boost::optional<CounterExample> & getOCE(const CounterExamplePair & ceP) { return ceP.first; }
    /**
     * Returns the CounterExample of a CounterExamplePair.
     *
     * @param ceP CounterExamplePair.
     * @return First value of ceP, namely the CounterExample.
     */
    static inline const CounterExample & getCE(const CounterExamplePair & ceP) { return ceP.first.get(); }
    /**
     * Returns the result of a CounterExamplePair.
     *
     * @param ceP CounterExamplePair.
     * @return Second value of ceP, namely the result returned by Z3.
     */
    static inline const z3::check_result & getResult(const CounterExamplePair & ceP) { return ceP.second; }

    /**
    * The result type of the CEGIS routine storing the found implementation, all the counter examples
    * needed and the runtime.
    */
    class CEGISResult {
        /**
         * Alias for the time_point type of the std::chrono library.
         */
        using TimePoint = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::time_point;

    private:
        /**
         * Stores the found implementation. Contains none iff CEGIS routine failed.
         */
        const boost::optional<Implementation> implementation;
        /**
         * Solvers result.
         */
        const z3::check_result result;
        /**
         * Stores all the needed counter examples.
         */
        const std::vector<CounterExample> counterExamples;
        /**
         * Start and end point of the CEGIS routine.
         */
        const TimePoint startPoint, endPoint;
        /**
         * The name of the current implementation task.
         */
        const std::string name;

    public:
        /**
         * Constructor. Gets the implementation and the counter examples to store as well as two time points
         * representing the start and the end of the CEGIS routine.
         *
         * @param implTp The found valuation to the implementation variables plus the solver state.
         * @param ces The needed counter examples during the CEGIS routine.
         * @param start The time stamp where the CEGIS routine started.
         * @param end The time stamp where the CEGIS routine finished.
         * @param n The name of the current implementation task.
         */
        CEGISResult(const ImplementationPair          & implP,
                    const std::vector<CounterExample> & ces,
                    const TimePoint                   & start,
                    const TimePoint                   & end,
                    const std::string                 & n);

        /**
         * Indicates whether the CEGIS routine was able to find an implementation.
         *
         * @return z3::sat if an implementation was found,
         *         z3::unsat if no implementation is possible,
         *         z3::unknown if the solvers were not able to reason about it.
         */
        const z3::check_result check() const;

        /**
         * Returns the valuation to the given variable. Returns the variable itself iff no valuation exists.
         *
         * @return The valuation to the given (implementation) variables.
         */
        const z3::expr getValuation(const z3::expr var) const;

        /**
         * Gets the number of counter examples needed.
         *
         * @return The number of all needed counter examples.
         */
        const size_t getNumberOfCounterExamples() const;

        /**
         * Gets the runtime in milliseconds needed to execute the whole CEGIS routine.
         *
         * @return The runtime in milliseconds needed to execute the CEGIS routine.
         */
        long getRuntime() const;

        /**
         * Writes formatted results to the given std::ostream object. std::cout is used if no std::ostream object
         * is specified. Setting the csv flag to true outputs a comma-separated string line (ideal for
         * benchmarking).
         *
         * @param out The std::ostream object to which the results should be written.
         * @param csv A flag to indicate whether the output should be formatted comma-seperated.
         *            If csv is set, the header should look like this:
         *            Benchmark, Result, #Counter-examples, Runtime
         */
        void print(std::ostream &out = std::cout, bool csv = false);
    }; // CEGISResult

    /**
     * Alias for high_resolution_clock type of the std::chrono library.
     */
    using clock = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock;

    /**
     * The variables appearing in the expression to solve.
     */
    const z3::expr_vector implementationVariables, inputVariables, helperVariables;
    /**
     * The expression to solve splitted in different parts.
     */
    const z3::expr implementationExpression, behavioralExpression, correctnessExpression;
    /**
     * The given context used for all variables.
     */
    z3::context * const context;
    /**
     * Two solvers are used alternately within the CEGIS routine. One to find valuations to the implementation
     * variables and one to find counter examples for the found valuation.
     */
    z3::solver implementationSolver, counterExampleSolver;
    /**
     * A vector storing all found counter examples.
     */
    std::vector<CounterExample> counterExamples;

    /**
     * Counts the number of created counter examples.
     */
    static size_t ceID;

    /**
     * Template used for substituting the input variables during the CEGIS routine.
     */
    const boost::format INPUT_VAR_TEMPLATE{"inp_%1%_%2%"};
    /**
     * Template used for substituting the helper variables during the CEGIS routine.
     */
    const boost::format HELPER_VAR_TEMPLATE{"hlp_%1%_%2%"};

    /**
     * Name of the current implementation task.
     */
    std::string name = "";

    /**
     * Taking into account all found counter examples, this function calls the implementationSolver to find
     * a new valuation to the implementation variables that could satisfy the overall instance.
     *
     * @return A boost::optional containing this valuation as an Implementation object iff one was found.
     */
    const ImplementationPair findImplementation();

    /**
     * Given the current Implementation, this function calls the counterExampleSolver to find a new valuation
     * to the input variables that leads to a contradiction.
     *
     * @param impl Current implementation for which a counter example should be found.
     * @return A boost::optional containing this contradiction, i.e. the valuation of the input variables, as
     * a CounterExample object iff one was found.
     */
    const CounterExamplePair findCounterExample(const Implementation & impl);

    /**
     * Returns a z3::expr where all variables of vars appearing in expr are replaced by the pattern templ using the
     * current number of counter examples.
     *
     * @param expr Expression to be substituted.
     * @param vars Variables to be substituted in expr.
     * @param templ Pattern to perform the substitution.
     * @return A substituted expression.
     */
    const z3::expr substituteVars(const z3::expr        & expr,
                                  const z3::expr_vector & vars,
                                        boost::format     templ) const;

public:
    /**
     * Constructor. Creates a CEGISHandler object that is able to perform the CEGIS routine.
     * Requires a lot of parameters to keep the class immutable.
     *
     * @param ctx Pointer to the used context for all variables.
     * @param implVars The variables representing the sought implementation.
     * @param inpVars The variables representing the possible inputs.
     * @param hlpVars The variables representing the helpers.
     * @param implExpr Constraints ensuring validity of the implementation.
     * @param behavExpr Constraints ensuring correct internal behavior.
     * @param corrExpr Constraints ensuring desired output or similar.
     *
     */
    CEGISHandler(z3::context   * const   ctx,
                 z3::expr_vector const & implVars,
                 z3::expr_vector const & inpVars,
                 z3::expr_vector const & hlpVars,
                 z3::expr        const & implExpr,
                 z3::expr        const & behavExpr,
                 z3::expr        const & corrExpr);

    /**
     * Startes the CEGIS routine which tries to find a valuation to the input variables incrementally
     * by alternately calling two different solvers.
     *
     * @return a CEGISResult that stores the found implementation, all needed counter examples and the runtime.
     */
    const CEGISResult CEGISRoutine();

    /**
     * Sets the name of the current implementation task.
     *
     * @param n The desired name.
     */
    void setName(std::string n);

};

#endif //CEGIS_CEGIS_H

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Lepidium nanum, the dwarf pepperweed, is a plant species native to the US states of Nevada and Utah. It is known from four counties in Nevada (Nye, Elko, White Pine and Eureka) but only one in Utah (Tooele County). It occurs in open, sunlit areas in the desert, often with gypsum, limestone, quartzite or chalky soils.

Lepidium nanum is a perennial herb with a woody caudex, forming mound-shaped mats on the surface of the ground. Basal leaves are obovate, up to  long. There are  no leaves on the stems above ground level. Flowers are yellow to creamy white, born on a raceme of up to 7 flowers. Fruits are egg-shaped, often with wings at the tips.

References

nanum
Flora of Utah
Flora of Nevada
Flora without expected TNC conservation status


text:
Shanghai Municipal Government Released...
Shanghai Municipal Government Released the Incentive Scheme for the Establishment of Regional Headquarters
China Tax Alert - Issue 9, March 2017
On 27 January 2017, the Shanghai Municipal Government promulgated the modified version of the Incentive Scheme for the Establishment of Regional Headquarters by Multinational Companies in Shanghai (hereinafter referred to as "the Incentive Scheme", which took effect on 1 February). The modification aims to extend, optimise and integrate the 2011 version of the Incentive Scheme (Hufufa [2011] No. 98, expired on 19 December 2016) and its supplementary policies. The essence of the State Council Announcement on Opening-up Expansion and Encouraging Foreign Investment (Guofa [2017] No. 5, hereinafter referred to as Announcement No.5) is also followed and implemented by the municipal government in this modification.
By the end of 2016, a cumulative number of 580 regional headquarter institutions, including Regional Headquarters ("RHQs") and Headquarter Establishment, had been set up in the city of Shanghai. The Joint Annual Report on Foreign Investment staged a rosy picture of the data, showing that with only 1.26% of foreign-invested enterprises ("FIEs") being regional headquarter institutions, 17.37% of net profit and 10.59% of tax revenue were contributed by the regional headquarter institutions.Apparently, the headquarter economy has been playing a major role in the regional economic development and fiscal revenue growth of Shanghai.
This issue of China Tax Alert highlights and analyses the major adjustments and hot topics regarding the modification of the Incentive Scheme. Meanwhile, we also share our observations for your reference.
Download China Tax Alert PDF
Modification Highlight
The modified Incentive Scheme basically follows the logical sequence and concepts adopted in the previous version, with adjustments to and simplification of certain requirements, and integrates a series of later incentives and policies developed at the state and regional level. The highlights of the modified Incentive Scheme are summarised as below:
1. Expansion of incentive coverage
A key modification of the Incentive Scheme is the integration of the concept of Headquarter Establishment, which was first introduced by the Supplementary Regulations Governing the Incentive Scheme for Headquarter Institutions (hereinafter referred to as "Supplementary Regulations", jointly released by four government bodies at the Shanghai municipal level). The integration of the concept aims to officially expand the incentive coverage to the multinational companies and branches that in substance assume roles of regional decision-making, fund management, sales and procurement, but fall short of the accreditation criteria.
RHQ
The minimum total assets required of the parent company of a RHQ in a service industry has been reduced from USD 400 million to USD 300 million. Meanwhile, a CHC can no longer be accredited as a RHQ automatically.
Headquarter Establishmen
Compared with the Supplementary Regulation released in 2014, the modification loosens some of the accreditation requirements:
The minimum number of existing investments by the parent company of the Headquarter Establishment has been reduced from 3 to 2.
Senior management personnel are no longer required to be based in Shanghai. Furthermore, the requirements on minimum area of operation premises and headcount of employees acting in managerial capacities are also removed from the Incentive Scheme.
An additional threshold of minimum registered capital (operation fund in the case of a branch) of USD 2 million for an entity to apply for the headquarter accreditation is introduced in the modified Incentive Scheme.
2. An assortment of supplementary policies for fund management
Benefiting from a package of recent policies, qualified RHQs and Headquarter Establishments are able to carry out various fund management activities, such as centralised intra-group foreign exchange management, an assortment of cross-border RMB transactions and opening free trade accounts for cross-border RMB and foreign exchange settlement.
In addition, optimisation of cross-border remittance under non-trade items and a fast track for related contract registration and tax assessment are also brought up in the modified Incentive Scheme.
3. No more limits on business scope
The previous version of Incentive Scheme provided a list of 7 allowable business operations (e.g., investment decision-making and financial management) for a RHQ, which has been removed by the modification.
4. Simplified documents and expediting of approval process
Capital verification report and a set of documents for the legal representative, including the appointment letter, resume and identification, have been removed from the revised application document request list. Also, the allowed timeline for the government authority to review an application and provide feedback has been reduced from 10 working days to 8 working days.
5. Introduction of discretional incentive at the district level
Another salient point of this modification is that the district-level government for the first time is officially allowed to devise its own incentive plans to support the headquarter economy. The introduction of such discretional incentives corresponds with the motif of Announcement No. 5, giving district governments more leeway in policy-making to attract business and boost the local economy.
KPMG Observations
With the regulatory adjustments in this modification, we have summarised below the areas worthy of your attention:
In the modified version of the Incentive Scheme, fiscal subsidy still expressly remains exclusive to RHQ. Headquarter Establishments, not eligible for fiscal subsidy, are granted with other preferential treatments including but not limited to talent attraction and visa facilitation. Such differences in incentive plans between the two types of headquarter institution should be well noted by enterprises in determining the headquarter business plan.
Based on our communication with policy makers, there has yet to exist any supplementary incentive plan on a district level. However, according to our experience with the previous policy practice, it is highly likely that the district level of incentive policies will be rolled out soon.
The modified Incentive Scheme does not specify any regulatory facilitation or support for fund management that is exclusive to enterprises with RHQ or Headquarter Establishment accreditation. Instead, it incorporates a selection of existing policies in this realm as a supplement to the incentive package.
That being said, the accreditation of headquarter institutions may be factored into some comprehensive evaluation mechanism. For instance, the headquarter accreditation may help lift the applicant's profile and fasten the assessment and approval in a cross-border RMB cash pool application.
Similar to its previous version, the modified Incentive Scheme does not elaborate on fiscal incentive plans in detail. The Implementation Opinion and Method (Hufubanfa [2012] No. 51), which serves as the official explanation and detailed implementation plan for the previous version of Incentive Scheme, will not expire until 30 June 2017. We learned that the modification of the Implementation Opinion and Method is underway and is expected to be released before the aforesaid expiration date. We suggest that enterprises can study the current version for reference, proactively communicate with the relevant governmental authority, as well as keep a close eye on the update of the fiscal incentive plans in this respect.
China Tax Alert - Issue 9 (PDF version)


Discussion in 'Prison' started by Qaraman_Season2, Feb 11, 2019.
Vond and Tree182 like this.
Oh yes, as you can see by the like. Yesyes, Tree probably put that there.
also tree hwy u changed ur skin .-.
I have seen much worser things in PvP than that, trust me.